ADT Security Systems Extortion to 'fix' annoying alarms and beeps from system installed in home purchased a year ago, no contract to monitor Albuquerque, New Mexico

I purchased my home 19 months ago. It has an ADT alarm system that I chose not to activate due to economics - I simply could not afford the additional expense. 2 months ago, the system started beeping for unknown reasons. I could hit the 'disarm' button and that would turn off the beeps for about 5 hours, then they would start up again. Upon calling ADT regarding the problem, they informed me that the system was not under contract and, without the codes, they could not help me. Being the persistent little B that I am, I called again. I was told that a battery in one of the entry-ways was dead and needed to be replaced. They could resolve any issues with an on-site call at $25 for the visit and $125/hour to resolve.

$20 later, the 'faulty' battery was replaced and the system again beeped, telling me that not only was there a fault at that location, but that it had also been tampered with. Call 3 to ADT said I had to locate the wall plug somewhere in the residence to remove power to the ADT system and let the battery drain. Again, they could resolve the problem with an on-site (cost) call. After much searching, I finally found the plug and removed it (Saturday) from the power source. Battery should now drain and die, eliminating the problem.

Tuesday, a friend stayed in the home overnight while I was out of town. Alarm went off - screaming at the neighborhood for 5 minutes. So much for the lack of power resolution. Another call to ADT states they will note my file but problems should have resolved with power down.   Not So!

Friday night I get home to the d@$% thing telling me every minute that the motion has been triggered, there is a fault (at original replace battery location) and location tampered. Another call to ADT. "I'm sorry Ma'am, but you will need a service rep. You don't have an account with us." FINALLY, tho, after words of frustration and abuse to this rep, she tells me that I can get to the battery by opening the panel yet again in a highly unlayman thoughtof method. I remove the battery but the thing CONTINUES TO TALK TO ME. No power - but it is STILL very much active!!!!! "Let me get a technichian to you" she says. EXTORTION I say and I am not paying it!!!!

Without her assistance, I use that handy screwdriver and remove every wire connected to this never-before-accessed panel. FINALLY the d@$% thing shuts up.

It won't squak again and I certainly will NOT contract ADT when I do get an active alarm system.

They could not tell me in the first phone call how to get to this hidden panel and eliminate the problem in the first shot? She did not even tell me in the last call to remove ALL wires - I just did it cuz it would not shut up!

How many single women give up a portion of their grocery or gas money to pay this extortion scam?